WBC

This study investigated the relationship between early pregnancy peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among Thai and other South-East Asian women. Among 570 women with increased WBC counts and 575 controls with normal WBC counts, the GDM rate was significantly higher in the increased WBC group (13.2% vs. 5.2%, P < 0.001). Women with elevated WBC counts had a 2.20-fold higher adjusted risk of developing GDM (adjusted OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.39–3.47). The findings suggest that increased WBC count in early pregnancy is an independent risk factor for GDM, highlighting its potential as an early marker for identifying high-risk pregnancies.